Сабвуферы — Focal SW 1000 BE

The SW 1000 Be is an active bass-reflex subwoofer from Focal, handcrafted in France. It is a redesigned version of the Electra Be subwoofer, reworked so that it matches the loudspeakers of the Sopra line, and Focal presents it as a complement to the Sopra N°1 stand-mount and other smaller models. The standard finish is Black Lacquer, the US price was USD 5,499, and the shipping weight reaches about 54 kg.

Key specs that matter

One 33 cm W-cone woofer is powered by a BASH amplifier with a rating of 600 W RMS and 750 W maximum. Frequency response is 20 Hz to 150 Hz within plus or minus 3 dB, and the low-frequency point at minus 6 dB lies at 18 Hz. Maximum output from a single unit is given as 118 dB SPL. The cabinet measures 535 x 500 x 432 mm (height, width, depth) and the net weight is 42 kg.

Engineering and use context

The W cone is a composite sandwich of Focal's own design, with two sheets of glass fibre placed on either side of a central foam body, which lets the company tune lightness, rigidity and damping separately. Focal states that the high rigidity keeps distortion low even at high volume. The reflex port is a front-facing laminar design, tuned to the bottom of the response and intended to avoid dynamic compression of the bass. The cabinet walls are curved for structural strength. A 24-bit digital signal processor runs the controls, which are shown on an LCD panel on the front baffle. The low-pass setting covers 50 Hz to 150 Hz in 5 Hz increments with a slope of 24 dB per octave, and a subsonic filter of 48 dB per octave can be switched off or set from 20 Hz upward in 5 Hz steps. Phase moves from 0 to 180 degrees in 30 degree steps, gain can be trimmed by up to 6 dB either way, a Boost mode raises the level by up to 6 dB at 30, 40 or 50 Hz, and a Night mode compresses the dynamic range for late listening. Three user memories store different settings, and a lockable remote control handles volume and the filter functions.

Pairing

Connections include an RCA LFE input, RCA stereo inputs and a digital input and output, so the SW 1000 Be can take a home cinema processor feed as well as a stereo signal from a two-channel preamplifier. The digital output allows several units to be chained in one installation. In a Sopra system it adds bass below the range of stand-mounted speakers, and it also works with other compact Focal loudspeakers in home cinema setups.

Alternatives

The Focal Sub 600P is a smaller powered Focal subwoofer, built around a sealed cabinet and a single 30 cm driver.